1 Petrus 4:8

8 Vor allen Dingen aber habt untereinander eine inbrünstige Liebe, denn die Liebe bedeckt eine Menge von Sünden.

1 Petrus 4:8 Meaning and Commentary

1 Peter 4:8

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves,
&c.] Not but that charity, or love, is to be exercised towards all men, even towards enemies, but more especially towards the saints, and that under such a consideration in which it cannot be exercised towards others; namely, as their brethren in Christ, and as belonging to him, as the children of God, as redeemed by Christ, and sanctified by the Spirit; and these not only such as are of the same nation, and belong to the same particular church and community, or of the same denomination, but all the saints everywhere, whether Jews or Gentiles, or of whatsoever name, and in whatsoever state and condition: and this love ought to be mutual and reciprocal, and to be warm and fervent, and not lukewarm and indifferent, as it too often is; and should be constant, "continued", and "perpetual", as the Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions here read: and this the apostle exhorts to above all things else; since outward sobriety, and watchings, and prayer, and all other duties, are nothing without this; this is the sum and substance of the law, and the fulfilling of it; and without this a mere knowledge of the Gospel, and a profession of it, are in vain, and therefore in the first place to be attended to. And especially for the following reason,

for charity shall cover the multitude of sins;
referring to ( Proverbs 10:12 ) not a man's own sins, but the sins of others; and not from the sight of God, for from that only the blood and righteousness of Christ cover sins, even all the sins, the whole multitude of the sins of God's elect; but from the sight of men, both of those against whom they are committed, and others; since charity, or true love, thinks no ill, but puts the best constructions upon the words and actions of fellow Christians, and does not take them up, and improve and exaggerate them, but lets them lie buried in oblivion: it takes no notice of injuries, offences, and affronts, but overlooks them, bears with them, and forgives them, so that they are never raked up, and seen any more; which prevents much scandal, strife, and trouble. The Alexandrian copy, and some others, and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions, read, "covereth", as in ( Proverbs 10:12 ) .

1 Petrus 4:8 In-Context

6 Denn dazu ist auch den Toten gute Botschaft verkündigt worden, auf daß sie gerichtet werden möchten dem Menschen gemäß nach dem Fleische, aber leben möchten Gott gemäß nach dem Geiste.

7 Es ist aber nahe gekommen das Ende aller Dinge. Seid nun besonnen und seid nüchtern zum Gebet.

8 Vor allen Dingen aber habt untereinander eine inbrünstige Liebe, denn die Liebe bedeckt eine Menge von Sünden.

9 Seid gastfrei gegeneinander ohne Murren.

10 Je nachdem ein jeder eine Gnadengabe empfangen hat, dienet einander damit als gute Verwalter der mancherlei Gnade Gottes.